MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: IDB Invest Lends $15m in Local Currency to CAME of Mexico to Promote Financial Inclusion of SMEs, Companies led by Women

Consejo de Asistencia al Microemprendedor (CAME), a Mexican microfinance institution, recently secured a four-year loan of MXN 300 million (USD 15 million) from IDB Invest, a member of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group. CAME’s services include deposits, loans, payments and insurance for microentrepreneurs as well as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Its loan products include

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: IDB Kicks Off $15m Program to Promote MSMEs in Belize with Eye to Climate, COVID-19 and Women


The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), a US-based multilateral institution, recently loaned USD 15 million to Belize to provide “production-oriented capital” to 200 micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). The funding is intended to assist MSMEs, particularly those led by women, in

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: BlueOrchard Raises $207m in Equity for COVID-19 Emerging and Frontier Markets MSME Support Fund – Adding IDB, Visa Foundation as Investors

BlueOrchard Impact Investment Managers, a member of the UK-based Schroders Group, recently announced it raised USD 207 million in the second close of its COVID-19 Emerging and Frontier Markets MSME Support Fund, which is intended to counter “the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic” among micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in low- and middle-income countries. The new investors in the funding round include IDB Invest, a member of the Inter-American

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: ANDE, IDB to Implement MSME Digital Transformation Program in Uruguay, Boosting Digital, Human Resources

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), a multilateral finance institution that promotes economic development in Latin America and the Caribbean, recently approved a loan of USD 15 million to support micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Uruguay through the MSME Digital Transformation Program. The goal is to increase MSMEs’ adoption and awareness of “digital solutions, increase the supply of digital goods and services, and

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: IDB to Lend $150m to Panama, Targeting MSME Recovery

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), a multilateral financial institution that promotes economic development in Latin America and the Caribbean, recently approved a loan of USD 150 million to support micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Panama in adjusting to the COVID-19 pandemic “by facilitating access to production-oriented finance.” The funding will be delivered via

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Common Cents Lab, IDB, Mastercard, MercadoLibre Harnessing Behavioral Economics, Technology in Effort to Bolster Financial Stability of Entrepreneurs, SMEs in Latin America

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), a multilateral financial institution that promotes economic development in Latin America and the Caribbean, recently partnered with US-based Common Cents Lab, US-based financial services company Mastercard and Argentina-based e-retailer MercadoLibre on a program intended to improve the ability of entrepreneurs as well as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) “to prepare for, deal with and recover later from economic shocks.” Over two years, the partners will design and test “behavioral-informed interventions,” such as reminders, deadlines or social pressure, “within the MercadoLibre platform and

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: IDB Launches Program to Connect Women’s MSMEs in Latin America, Caribbean with Value Chains, International Trade

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), a multilateral financial institution that promotes economic development in Latin America and the Carribbean, has partnered with six large companies to launch a program promoting the integration of women-owned businesses “into foreign trade and regional value chains” as a way to: (1) stimulate the region’s economy as it adjusts to the COVID-19 pandemic; and (2) increase job opportunities and decrease economic and other gaps between men and women. The private firms, whose roles have yet to be clearly defined, are Ireland-based Accen

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Google, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Invest $12m in Locfund Next to Support Small Businesses in Latin America, Caribbean in Responding to COVID-19

Locfund Next, a debt fund managed by BIM Asset Management, recently received an investment of USD 8 million from US-based technology firm Google as part of USD 200 million Google has committed to support organizations that

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: IDB Invest, Jamaica Money Market Brokers (JMMB) Bank Strike $70m Deal to Boost SME Lending, Social Performance, Human Resources, Environmental Tracking

IDB Invest, a member of the US-based Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group, recently formed a partnership with Jamaica Money Market Brokers (JMMB) Bank whereby JMMB Bank will receive from IDB Invest: (1) support “on the development and implementation of an environmental and social management system;” (2) capacity building services related to human resources; (3) a five-year loan of USD 35 million earmarked for on-lending to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); and (4) the arrangement of an additional lending package of USD 35 million funded by third-party banks. The funding will increase “the mat

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: IDB Invest, DFC, FinDev Canada Loan $390m to Davivienda of Colombia for SMEs, Environmental Sustainability, Women

IDB Invest, a member of the US-based Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group; the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC); and FinDev Canada, a subsidiary of government-owned Export Development Canada, recently issued subordinated loans totaling USD 390 million to Colombia’s Banco Davivienda for repayment over 10 years. The deal will “provide new financing for work

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: IDB Loans $50m to BRDE to Support MSMEs in Southern Brazil in Retaining Employees During Pandemic

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), which is owned by 48 member nations, recently issued a loan of USD 50 million, with a term of 15 years and a 5.5-year grace period, to Banco Regional de Desenvolvimento do Extremo Sul (BRDE), which is owned by three states in southern Brazil. BRDE will on-lend the funds through its Recupera Sul credit line product in an effort to support micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in adjusting to the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary goal is to help these firms to preserve employment in order to hasten economic recovery after the pandemic, decreasing the burden on social programs.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Paraguay Borrows $15m from IDB, Seeking to Boost Productivity Among 8,500 MSMEs

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), whose membership comprises 48 nations, recently issued a 24-year loan of USD 15 million to the government of Paraguay with the goal of increasing the productivity of 8,500 micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Paraguay plans to use the funds for technology innovation and a national network of “productivity centers” providing

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Banco W Issuing $40m “Social Bond,” Funded by IDB Invest to Promote Gender Equity in Colombia via Microfinance

IDB Invest, a member of the US-based Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group, recently subscribed to a four-year bond of COP 150 billion (USD 39.6 million) to be issued by Banco W, a Colombian credit institution. The funds are slated to reach 25,000 female-led microenterprises and support the “development of the capital markets and thematic bonds in Colombia.” The bond is registered with the Colombian Stock Exchange, and IDB Invest describes it as

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: IDB Loans $750m to BNDES to Support MSMEs in Brazil During COVID-19 Pandemic

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), whose membership comprises 48 nations, recently loaned USD 750 million to Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social (BNDES), the Brazilian government’s development bank, to support micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Brazil that have seen significant drops in revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic. The loan is expected to enable

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Fundacion Kodea of Chile Wins $100k JK Visionaries Award from IDB for Training Women, Youth in Technology Skills

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), whose membership comprises 48 nations, recently announced that Fundacion Kodea of Chile is the first-place winner of the 2019-2020 JK Visionaries Award. The award is for organizations that are successful in

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Lending $94m to Mitigate Effects of COVID-19 on 29k Micro-, Small Enterprises (MSEs) in Ecuador

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), whose membership comprises 48 nations, recently loaned USD 93.8 million to Ecuador to on-lend as working capital to micro- and small enterprises (MSEs) in the country in an effort to sustain employment amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds are intended to reach approximately 29,000 MSEs, some via savings and credit cooperatives that will enjoy guarantees from

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: El Salvador to Borrow $20m from IDB to Benefit 2k Micro-, Small Businesses; Including 20% Owned by Women

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), a multilateral institution whose membership comprises 26 countries, recently approved a loan of USD 20 million to El Salvador to provide 2,000 micro- and small enterprises (MSEs) with “access to credit under better term[s].” Banco de Fomento Agropecuario de El Salvador (BFA),

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: IDB Invests $60m in Colombia for MSMEs to Boost Production Capacity, Energy Efficiency

Bancoldex, an institution of the Colombian government “focused on promoting business growth and foreign trade,” recently received approval to access USD 60 million of a potential credit line of USD 600 million from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), a US-based multilateral institution, for on-lending to retail lenders serving micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises. In particular, the funding will be directed to efforts to improve production capacity and energy efficiency. Bancoldex also will seek to support investments in